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Separate Cinema: The First 100 Years of Black Poster Art

This magnificent volume is a celebration of the first 100 years of black film poster art. A visual feast, these images recount the diverse and historic journey of the black film industry from the earliest days of Hollywood to present day, accompanied by insightful accompanying text, a foreword by black history authority and renowned academic, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and an afterword by Hollywood director, Spike Lee. These posters have meaning to young and old alike, and possess the power to transcend ethnicity. They capture the spirit and energy of an earlier time, reminding people of the pioneers of the past, those courageous and daring African-American filmmakers, entertainers and artists whose dreams and struggles paved the way for future generations. The wealth of imagery on these pages is taken from The Separate Cinema Archive, maintained by archive director John Kisch. The most extensive private holdings of African-American film memorabilia in the world, it contains over 35,000 authentic movie posters and photographs from over 30 countries. This stunning coffee table book represents some of the archive’s greatest highlights.

Featured image is reproduced from 'Separate Cinema: The First 100 Years of Black Poster Art.'

CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 2/21/2017

Rufus Jones for President indeed! This poster for the 1933 film starring jazz singer Ethel Waters—best known for introducing the song "Stormy Weather" at the Cotton Club in Harlem that same year—and eight-year-old Sammy Davis, Jr., is reproduced from Separate Cinema,Reel Art Press' 320-page celebration of the first century of black film poster art. In Rufus Jones for President, a 21-minute fantasy satire on politics, a little boy "dreams that he becomes President of the United States while his 'Mammy' is Vice President. The satire is both pointed ('Two pork chops every time you vote,' the electorate is promised) and humorous (W. C. Handy’s 'Memphis Blues' is adopted as the new national anthem)." In honor of Black History Month and in light of the current political spectacle, we are delighted to recommend this wonderful volume. continue to blog

CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 7/21/2016

Culled from the largest private archive of African-American film memorabilia in the world, which includes more than 30,000 movie posters and photographs from more than 30 countries, Separate Cinema presents approximately 300 of the most emblematic black cinema posters of the last century. Featured here is a 1927 Swedish poster for Josephine Baker in La Sirène des Tropiques. More on the making of the book here. continue to blog

This magnificent volume is a celebration of the first 100 years of black film poster art. A visual feast, these images recount the diverse and historic journey of the black film industry from the earliest days of Hollywood to present day, accompanied by insightful accompanying text, a foreword by black history authority and renowned academic, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and an afterword by Hollywood director, Spike Lee. These posters have meaning to young and old alike, and possess the power to transcend ethnicity. They capture the spirit and energy of an earlier time, reminding people of the pioneers of the past, those courageous and daring African-American filmmakers, entertainers and artists whose dreams and struggles paved the way for future generations. The wealth of imagery on these pages is taken from The Separate Cinema Archive, maintained by archive director John Kisch. The most extensive private holdings of African-American film memorabilia in the world, it contains over 35,000 authentic movie posters and photographs from over 30 countries. This stunning coffee table book represents some of the archive’s greatest highlights.